Bill approved to update armed robbery statute

State Rep. Diana Farrington, of Utica, center, joined Derek Miller of the Macomb County Prosecutors’ Office, left, and Clinton Township Police Department Capt. Richard Maierle in testifying on her bill to expand the state statute of limitations for armed robbery in September 2017.
(SUBMITTED PHOTO)

The House Law and Justice Committee has approved legislation to expand the statute of limitations from six to 10 years for someone to be charged for armed robbery.

State Rep. Diana Farrington (R-Utica) explained the bill justifiably places armed robbery on the same level as other violent crimes, such as kidnapping or manslaughter.

“Armed robbery is a serious offense,” Farrington said. “Michigan law should allow more time for misplaced evidence and new testimony to come to light for a crime that can be a lifelong memory, whether they’re injured in the crime or not. Anyone willing to commit an armed robbery has little respect for human life, so we shouldn’t have a time technicality to get in the way.”

During previous committee testimony, Farrington was joined by Derek Miller of the Macomb County Prosecutors’ Office and Clinton Township Police Department Capt. Richard Maierle speaking in support of her legislation.

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“Six years is plenty of time for an arrest or prosecution of certain non-violent or victimless crimes, but we shouldn’t treat armed robbery in the same manner,” Farrington said. “We need to give our law enforcement agencies more tools to bring these criminals to justice.”